Aerial merry-go-round



M r 2, 1 L. u. EYERLY 2,312,533

AERIAL MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed Jan. 17, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 1943. L. u. EYERLY ,312,

AERIAL MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed Jan. 17, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 &

LU. EYERL ATrUR/VEV March 2, 1943.

L. U. EYERLY AERIAL MERRY-GO-ROUND Filed Jan. 17, 194; 4 Sheets Sheet 4 uvg/swrua L U. EFERLK BK FITrUR/VEV Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE AERIAL MERRY-GO-ROUND Lee U. Eyerly, Salem, Oreg. Application January 1'7, 1941, Serial No. 374,886

6 Claims. (01. 272-40) This invention relates generally to amusement devices and particularly to an aerial merry-goround.

The main object of this invention is to construct an amusement device of the merry-goround type in which the passenger-carrying elements are in the form of aeroplanes which are partially under the control of the occupants.

The second object of this invention is to construct a merry-go-round of the class described wherein the aerial cars may be maneuvered while in motion, but are forced to level off when nearing the ground.

The third object of this invention is to construct a merry-go-round of the class described which will provide unique thrills for the riders without subjecting them to unnecessary hazards.

These and other objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of the ride.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the planes.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showing the parts in a landed position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts in a flying position.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section showing a modified form of the device.

Fig. 7 is a plan of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary section taken along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section through a modifled form of the device showing a plane in a landed position.

Fig. 10 is a plan of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the plane in a flying position and executing a roll.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section taken along the line l2--l2 in Fig. 9.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, there is shown a base In upon which is mounted a vertical thrust bearing ll upon which journals the lower end l2 of the revolvable spindle l3 on Whose upper end is secured a cable winding drum l4. Around the end I2 is formed a gear l5 which meshes with the pinion l6 of the driving motor I! which may be controlled in any suitable manner, not shown.

The spindle 13 is revolvable within the sleeve l8, whose lower end I9 is flanged and supported by the anti-friction bearings 20 upon the end l2. Radial anti-friction bearing 2i maintain the relationship between the spindle l3 and the upper end of the sleeve I8. The sleeve is i supported by the anti-friction radial thrust bearings 22 within the head 23 which is supported by the standards 24 which in turn are supported by the base In. Suitable braces 25 are provided to insure the necessary rigidity for the structure.

From the sleeve 3 are formed a plurality of ears 25 to each of which is attached, by means of a bolt 21, the foot of a fixed arm 28 whose upper portion 29 is outturned and has attached to its outer end 30 a short cable 3|, the purpose of which will be explained later.

The arms 28 are held from pivoting downward- 1y about the bolt 21 by means of the horizontal cables 32 which are secured to the arms 28 and the flange 33 at the upper end of the sleeve l8. Hinged to each arm 28, by means of a bolt 34, is a boom arm 35 which is in the form of a bell crank lever whose end 36 has secured thereto a grooved cable-supporting block 31. A cable 33, which is secured to the boom 35 at th eye 39, passes over the grooved block 31 and has its end 40 secured to the drum I4.

It is desirable to provide a spring 4| in the cable-'38 in order to make the car responsive to alimited controlling action on the part of its operator. A car unit consists of a fuselage 42 which is shown rotatably mounted on its forward end 43 only. From the end 43 projects the spindle 44 which is mounted in the anti-friction bearings 45 "disposed within the boom end 46.

On the outer end of each spindle 44 is secured a crank arm 41 on whose pin 48 is rotatably mounted the cable fastening 49 to which is attached one end of a cable 3|. Thefuselage 42 is provided with the usual wings 58, aileron 5|, elevators '52, and rudder 53. Th members 5|, 52, 53 are provided with the usual controls, not shown, it being understood, of course, that the operator's ability to control the movement of his plane is limited by the resiliency of the spring 4|. It is also desirable to provide a landing gear 54, the purpose of which is to support the ship firmly when it is on the ground.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that the passengers are within the plane, which is in the position shown in Fig. 4, it will first be noted that whenthe landing gear 54 engages the ground, that the cable 3| is taut; that is, the crank 4.1 assume a straight line position in which it points toward the block 31. The purpose of this construction is to prevent the making of a landing when the wings 50 are not in a horizontal position.

With the passengers on board, the motor I1 is operated, causing the spindle I3 to revolve and the cable 40 to be wound upon the drum I4 causing a lift to be exerted against the bell crank lever of the boom 35; and the fuselage 42 to be lifted in an arcuate path, of which the bolt 34 forms the center, the direction of lift being indicated by the dotted line 55.

It can be seen that as the fuselage 42 rises, its resistance to a lifting action increases to a point where a resultant of the forces causes a rotating movement to be imparted to the sleeve I8 and the attached parts, causing the various units 42 to revolve in circular orbits.

Owing to the presence of a spring M in each cable 38, it follows that a fuselage 42 may be raised or lowered with relation to the other planes by the use of its own ailerons 5| and e1evators 52. It will be noted that although ailerons and elevators are employed, those on the same side of the aeroplane will naturally work in the same direction at the same time, instead of oppositely, as is the normal practice, owing to the fact that the aeroplanes in this device will always operate on a level longitudinal axis. That is to say, if it is desired to roll the fuselage clockwise, then the right hand aileron and elevator vanes are raised, and the left hand ailerons and elevators are lowered. Actually, the members 52 under such conditions do not serve as elevators at all, but are actually ailerons disposed at the rear end of the plane.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, there is provided a base 10 upon which is mounted a vertical thrust bearing 1I whose anti-friction ball bearings 12 support a gear 13 which meshes with a pinion 14 of the operating motor 15. -The motor 15 is supported on the frame 16 upon Whose upper end is mounted the revolvable turret 11 which is supported upon the frame 16 by means of bearings 18.

A vertical spindle 19 is secured to the turret I1 and gear 13 by means of the keys 80 and 8|.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 6 to 8 inclusive, there is shown a fuselage 82 having the usual wings 83, ailerons 84 and elevators 85 under the control of the operator by means similar to those now in common use, except that the ailerons 84 and elevators 85 act in the same direction simultaneously, instead of as is the normal case. The usual landing gear 85 is also indicated. The fuselage 82 is mounted along its longitudinal axis on trunnions 81 and 88 which journal in the bearings 89 and 90.

The bearings 89 and 90 are secured by the cables IN to the yoke 92 whose strap 93 passes through a hole 94 in the arm 95, whose lower end is secured to the turret 11 by means of a bolt 96, and whose upper end is held against outward movement by means of the radial brace wires 3; and circumferentially by means of the tie In this form of the device, the trunnions 81 have secured thereto a crank 99 to whose crank pin I00 is attached a cable fastening device IOI to which is secured a cable I02 whose opposite end is secured to the ring I03 at the upper end of the arm 95. A spring I04 is provided on the cable I02 for the purpose of taking up the slack therein and to prevent a whipping of the cable I02 as the fuselage 82 revolves on its axis.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 9 to the anti-friction is disposed the rotatable shaft I38 on one end of 'which is fixed a fuselage 42 and on the other endof which is secured a crank I39 to which is connected a winding cable I 40 which passes through the tube I 4| to the interior of the boom arm I34 and thence over the pulley I31 and thence fastening on the flange I42 of the cable winding drum I43.

The position of the crank I39 is such that when the fuselage 42 is in a lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 9, the crank I39 will be in direct alignment with the tube MI, and that any winding action imparted by the drum I 43 will cause the cable I40 to exert a lifting action at the outer end of the boom I34, and at the same time preventing the plane from being banked or rolled by the use of the ailerons 5I.

In addition to the cable I 40, there is provided a lifting cable I44 which is attached to the cable I 40.by means of a clamp I45 and to an intermediate portion of the arm I35 by mean's'of a pin I46. g

It will benoted in Fig. 9 that the cable I44 is slack While the cable I40 is taut, whereas in Fig. 11 the conditions are reversed and the lifting action is done entirely by the cable I44, while the cable I40 is slack, permitting the plane to be rolled.

In this form of the device no attempt is made to enable the operator of the plane to vary its elevation. Its operation is otherwise identical with the previously described form of the device.

The forms of the device shown in Figs. 6 to 12 inclusive, although differing somewhat from that shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, are almost identical in their operation and in the thrills which will be experienced by the passengers as a result of riding in the same. 1 1

While I have thus illustrated and described my invention, it must be understood that I do, not intend to be limited to the precise 'form illustrated herein. It is therefore my-intention to cover all such formsand modifications thereof as fall fairly within the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a merry-go-round having a, plurality. of aeroplanes against revolving on their axes while near the ground.

2. A merry-go-round of the class described consisting of a revolvable verticalspindle, a plurality of aeroplane units supported from and driven by said spindle, means for varying the elevation of the various planes, mca'ns'for perg mitting said planes to revolve on their longitudinal axes when clear of the ground,and means for holding said planes upright on their axes While nearing the ground.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a revolvable vertical spindle having a cable-winding drum secured thereon, a sleeve surrounding said spindle having fixed arms radiating therefrom, each of said arms having a boom hinged on the outer end thereof, a cable wound on said drum operatively connected to said boom in a manner to raise or lower same, an aeroplane having a horizontally fixed longitudinal axis attached to said boom, and means for holding said aeroplane upright and against rotation on its axis while nearing the ground, consisting of a crank secured to said aeroplane and a cable attached to said crank and to said drum wound cable whereby said crank will be held against rotation when said boom is in a lowered position.

4. A merry-go-round of the class described characterized by having a plurality of aeroplane units capable of traveling about a vertical axis at selective elevations, means for permitting said planes to revolve on their longitudinal axes at higher elevations and means for preventing the revolvement of said planes at lower flying elevations.

5. A merry-go-round of the class described having in combination a revolvable vertical spindle, a prime mover for revolving said spindle, a cable-winding drum secured to the spindle, a revolvable sleeve disposed around said spindle constituting a support for a plurality of radial arms, a bell crank boom arm hinged to each radial arm, an aeroplane mounted on the outer end of each boom arm, each of which is revolvable on its longitudinal axis while clear oi the ground, a crank attached to each of said airplanes, a winding cable attached to said cable-winding drum passing over a sheave on said bell crank lever and attached to a crank on the axis of said aeroplane in a manner to control the vertical positioning of same, and a lifting cable attached to said winding cable and. to said bell crank lever whereby the aeroplane unit may be held free of the ground but permitted to rotate on its axis.

6. A merry-go-round of the class described having in combination a central driving mast, a plurality of aeroplane units, each of which is revolvable on its own longitudinal axis and all of which have means for supporting same around said mast, means for holding said planes against revolving on their axes while flying near the ground, and means for selectively causing said planes to revolve on their axes while clear of the ground.

LEE U. EYERL 

